ASSOCIATION OF HYPERCALCEMIA, PTHRP EXPRESSION AND DISEASE PROGRESSION IN A WOMAN WITH PRIMARY SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST

This paper describes humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) associa ted with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast and its associati on with assayed levels of parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP). A 57-year-old woman presented with locally advanced SCC of the breast . The diagnosis was supported by serum analysis and histological and i mmunohistochemical findings. She was initially treated with chemothera py to reduce the tumor bulk but developed symptomatic hypercalcemia af ter one course. The hypercalcemia was effectively treated with intrave nous amino hydroxy propildene diphosphonate. Subsequently the tumor pr ogressed despite multimodality therapy and was associated with recurre nt hypercalcemia. The patient died nine months after presentation.